Shoe plate



M. M. WEST.

SHOE PLATE- APPLICATION mu) AUG.30, m1.

Patented June 6, 1922,

sires IVIANSIEIELD IVI. WEST, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASEBIGNOB TO THE UNIVERSAL SHOE PLATE COMPANY, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, A CORPORATION 015 OHIO.

SHOE PLATE.

naiasea.

Application filed August 30, 1917.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, hfihuvsrmnn M. Wns'r, a citizen of the United. States, residing at Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Shoe Plates, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to improvements in that clas of devices known as shoe plates, for protecting the soles and heels of boots and shoes from wear.

The invention pertainsmore particularly to the sort of shoe plates that are formed of sheet metal, and the features which constitute my invention will be hereinafter specifically pointed out.

In order that these featuresmay be better understood and more fully appreciated, it may be Well to recite what has heretofore been accomplished in this line. Shoe plates of the stamped metal variety are at present in great demand, and all with which I am familiar, while being reasonably efficient, possess qualities and peculiarities which make them somewhat undesirable. For in stance, heretofore stamped metal plates have had their prongs punched either from. the wearing area of the plate and turned downward, or turned downward from the periph" cry of the plate. In the former case the wearing property of the plate is obviously impaired, while the edge of the plate is not held down sufficiently tightly against the surface of the shoe heel or sole to prevent objects, such as splinters, from catching beneath the plate resulting in its being jerked off. This is because the prongs are spaced inward from the edge of the plate. In the second case, where the prongs are turned down from the edge of the plate, the connecting portions of the prongs and plate, being located at points of exposure to intense wear, soon become worn away, with the re suit that the plate is separated from the prongs and is lost long before it has served its usefulness.

Furthermore, in all plates with which I am familiar where the prongs are turned down from the edge of the plate, there are three prongs, one being set well in from the edge of the sole or heel while the two remaining prongs are in close proximity to the edge (the region of greatest wear). Conse- Specification of Letters Patent.

rammed. June 6,1922.

Serial No. 188,901.

quently the outer prongs soon wear away and the plate turns upon the third prong, causing the prong to withdraw from the hole thus made larger, or the plate to break away from the prong.

It is the object of my invention to overcome these difficulties by providing a plate with at least four prongs; turning the prongs down o far as practicable within the area of the plate proper so as to be protected by the body portion of the plate; and by further very slightly turning the edge of the plate downward between the prongs so that such turned down edge portion will embed itself into the surface of the sole or heel, thereby to produce a tight joint between the plate and such surface, insuring against splinters or other objects entering beneath the plate and jerking it off.

Further objects of my invention are to provide a plate wherein the metal is properly distributed, so that the plate will stand, to facilitate driving; and to corrugate the plate lengthwise between the opposed end prongs so as to stiffen its body portion to prevent its bending in driving, and also to prevent slipping, and enhance the wearing qualities of the plate.

A plate wherein the foregoing objects are attained is illustrated in the accompanying drawing. Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the plate; Fig. 2 shows the plate, in plan view, applied to a heel; and Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

The plate is practically of universal adaptability, the outer edge of the plate being curved to fit the contour of the average sole or heel. The body portion 1 of the plate is shown as having its outer edge so curved, and its inner edge is preferably of substantially the same curvature, having practically the same radius, so that the plate is somewhat wider at its middle than at each end. Also, preferably, the ends of the plate converge inwardly on lines crossing each other substantially midway between the centerson which the inner and outer edges are defrom each end of the inner curved edge of the plate. The prongs are preferably within the regular outline of the plate, as indicated in Fig. 2. The ends and inner edge of the plate are shown as curved downward somewhat to embed themselves within the material of the sole or heel, as revealed in material to the inner side of the linetthat is, the side towards the prongs 3) than there is on the outer side, thus indicating that the plate would readily stand and not over balance toward the outer side. This is highly.

important in articles of this character for it enables them to stand without being held, preparatory to driving. I wish to explain, also, that the side and inner edge portions of the plate are turned down so'slightly that they do not prevent driving the plate absolutely flat against the surface of the sole or heel.

Having thus vdescribed my invention, what I claim is y i A shoe plate constructed of sheet metal and comprising a body portion having a conveXed outer edge and straight ends substantially normal theretoand aninner edge connecting said ends, a prong depending from each end" and inset a comparatively short distance fromthe aforesaid outer edge whereby it is removed from the region of greatest wear, and aprong depending from each end of the inner edge; the materialvof the body portion by reason of the latters shape being properly distributed with regard to the wear imposedthereon when the plate is in use andso as to cause the plate to stand alone preparatory to driving it.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto afix my signature. a

MANSFIELD M. 'WE'ST, I 

